If you’ve never ridden Whistler before, the first thing that hits you isn’t the trails — it’s the scale of the place. Everything is bigger than most bike parks and if you’ve come from riding in the UK it can feel a little confusing at first.
When I arrived at Whistler Bike Park I remember standing there thinking right… how exactly does this all work?
Where do you put your bike on the lift?
Which gondola takes bikes?
And where do you wash the bike afterwards?
So while I was there I filmed a quick video showing the basics, because once you understand the system the whole place makes a lot more sense.
Watch the video
What I cover in the video
In this video I walk through a few of the practical things that can catch people out the first time they ride Whistler.
-
Practising putting the bike on the lift
-
Riding the Fitzsimmons lift
-
Using the Creekside gondola with bikes
-
How the main Whistler gondola works
-
Understanding the trail grading in Canada
-
Where most hotels store bikes
-
Bike wash stations in the park
It’s nothing complicated, but these are the little things that make your first day a lot smoother.
First impressions of Whistler
Whistler is honestly one of those places every mountain biker should experience at least once. The trail network is huge, the lift system runs incredibly smoothly and the whole town is set up for riding.
But it can feel slightly overwhelming when you first arrive, especially if you’re used to smaller bike parks.
Once you’ve loaded your bike onto the lifts a couple of times though, it quickly becomes second nature.
Tips for your first day at Whistler
-
Start on the Fitzsimmons zone
-
Get comfortable loading your bike on the lift
-
Don’t underestimate braking bumps
Part two coming soon
This video is part one of my Whistler series.
In the next one I’ll be sharing some of the places I found for food, coffee and post-ride refuelling around Whistler, which is almost as important as the riding itself.
If you're planning a trip to Whistler Bike Park and have any questions, drop them in the comments on the video and I’ll try to help.
Post a Comment